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Thursday, December 09, 2010

Philadelphia, PA (The Phanatic Magazine) - The excitement was back in the building Thursday night at Wells Fargo Center as a near capacity crowd saw the Boston Celtics edge the Philadelphia 76ers, 102-101.

The Sixers made a key defensive miscue in the waning seconds, allowing Kevin Garnett to get loose for an easy hoop with just 1.4 seconds left to win it.

Boston was able to take advantage of a gun-shy Philadelphia team that has lost a number of close games on the perimiter this season. Coming out of a timeout, Sixers coach Doug Collins made a key mistake by going small and subbing Lou Williams for Elton Brand.

The Celtics took advantage and went high-low, getting the ball to Rajon Rondo up top, who lobbed it into Garnett for the easy layup over Jrue Holiday, who had switched to guarding the 7-footer on the play.

"We did everything we wanted to do on defense," Sixers forward Thaddeus Young said. "When they get in a screen and roll, we just switch it in order to hold the big guys up. They just made a great play and lobbed it over the top."

Jodie Meeks was 4-for-4 from the three-point line and paced seven Philadelphia players with 19 points. Young and Lou Williams both came off the bench to score 16 apiece for the Sixers.

Elton Brand had 13 points and 14 rebounds for the Sixers while Andre Iguodala contributed 14 points, 11 assists and five rebounds and almost won it for Philadelphia when he deposited a runner with 6.6 ticks left.

Ray Allen paced Boston, which has beaten the Sixers seven straight times in the City of Brotherly Love, with 23 points. Rajon Rondo finished with 19 points and 14 assists while Garnett had 14 points.

"We are being measured by wins and losses," Brand said. "They are definitely the barometer, they are the measuring stick. That is the top team in the East that we need to see what we have got against them. We played well. We just have to finish it."

Six Shots:

*Meeks is 17-for-26 from long range over four games since taking the starting two guard spot.